Amazon (Diablo II) - Ranger expansion

Written by Martin K.

This powerful woman warrior belongs to nomadic bands who roam the plains near the South Sea. The wandering of these groups often brings them into conflict with other peoples, so the Amazon is accustomed to fighting to defend her own. This lifestyle has made her fiercely independent and able to weather severe hardship and travel. While her skill with the bow rivals that of the Rogues, the Amazon is also adept in the use of spears and other throwing weapons, as well as in hand to hand combat. The Amazon is much sought after as a mercenary, in which type of service she will be loyal as long as her own ends are also served.

The talents on this page are an expansion to the core book Ranger class, inspired by the Amazon in the classic Blizzard game Diablo II.

To create an Amazon character, build a Ranger as per the 13th Age core book, and choose your class talents from the list below.

There are three talents for spear and javelin, Path of Celestia (multiple attacks), Path of the Jungle (poison strikes) and Path of the Zerae (lightning attacks). A nother set of 3 talents provides bow and crossbow powers, Athulia's Guidance (magic attacks), Gift of Hafaetrus (fire attacks) and Karchaeus Watch (cold attacks). The third set of talents provides passive skills with Eye of Athena (perception and decoys), Pierce the Heart (critical strikes) and Dance of the Askari (defensive).

Unlike the core book talents, these talents are split into individual powers, which you gain as soon as you reach a certain level.

While it is possible to combine the talents below with core book ranger talents, these talents aren't balanced around it. Talk to your DM.

Javelin and Spear Talents

The following talents require the Amazon to either wield a spear (light, two-handed d8 melee weapon) or javelin (light d6 ranged weapon).

Path of Celestia

Jab

You learn this maneuver at 1st level. It requires a spear.

Hunting in the dense rain forests of the Amazon Islands is fraught with many obstacles. Confining overgrowth and fierce indigenous animals conspire to make combat difficult, if not impossible. Early in training, Amazon spear-women must learn to overcome these conditions. By honing their hunting techniques to the point where they are able to deliver many powerful spear thrusts in rapid succession, they learn to finish off one opponent before turning to slay another. The Jab is the most basic of the skills designed to accomplish this tactic.

Melee attack, at-will

Attack: Strength or Dexterity + level vs. AC. Make two attack rolls.

One hit: WEAPON + Strength damage.

Each additional hit: Deal one extra weapon damage die.

3rd level maneuver: Make three attack rolls.

7th level maneuver: Make four attack rolls.

Miss: -

Adventurer feat: You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for damage.

Champion feat:Deal two extra weapon damage dice per additional hit.

Epic feat:Deal three extra weapon damage dice per additional hit.

Impale

You gain this maneuver at 3rd level. It requires a spear.

Although deftness and superior hand-eye coordination are the hallmarks of the Amazon warrior, they are also well known for the ferocity of their attacks. An experienced warrior is able to focus her fury and deliver blows so powerful that they have been known to shatter their weapon in the process.

Melee attack; at-will; to use Impale, spend a standard action focusing, and make a standard action attack on the next round.

Attack: Strength or Dexterity + level + 4 vs. AC

Hit: Double (WEAPON + Strength damage).

Miss: Your level in damage.

Natural 4 or lower: If you are using a non-magical weapon, you break that weapon.

Adventurer feat: You can use Dexterity instead of Strength for damage.

Champion feat: You no longer suffer weapon breakage.

Fend

You gain this maneuver at 6th level. It requires a spear.

Once an Amazon warrior has attained mastery over the spear, she can engage and destroy multiple enemies in close quarter battle. Many of those enemies will be lucky to be alive after the vicious onslaughts of these attacks have ended. Grand Mistress Celestia was able to demonstrate this ability to the Initiates of Athulua by striking down a dozen experienced warriors in the space of an arrow's flight.

Melee attack, at-will

Attack: Strength or Dexterity + level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Strength damage.

Natural even hit: Make a follow-up attack against a nearby enemy that you have not attacked yet this turn.

Miss: Your level in damage

Champion feat:Keep making attacks until you miss, roll odd or run out of targets.

Path of the Jungle

Poison Javelin

You gain this maneuver at 1st level. It requires a javelin.

Amazon healers have long since ascertained the potent toxicity of their native flora. Any Amazon warrior devoted to this study is able to recognize particularly lethal strains of plant life, even while traveling in foreign lands. This knowledge allows her to create weapons from particularly virulent woods.

Ranged attack (nearby), at-will

Attack: Dexterity + level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Dexterity damage and 1d6 ongoing poison damage.

Even hit: Inflict the ongoing poison damage against a second nearby enemy

3rd level maneuver: 2d6 ongoing damage

5th level maneuver: 3d6 ongoing damage

7th level maneuver: 4d6 ongoing damage

9th level maneuver: 5d6 ongoing damage

Miss: Your level in poison damage

Champion feat: Increase the ongoing damage die to d10.

Epic feat: You can target far away enemies with this attack, at a -2 penalty to the attack.

Plague Javelin

You gain this maneuver at 5th level. It requires a javelin.

Practiced and cunning warriors are able to incorporate poisonous vegetation into the organs of wildlife, creating highly infectious and deadly bladders that the Amazons affix to their javelins. These javelins strike a target and explode into noxious and putrescent clouds. Entire armies of creatures and of men have been slaughtered by the ingenious use of these biological agents. The choking cloud created by a plague javelin will incapacitate even the strongest foes.

Ranged attack (nearby), cyclic (once per combat but not expended when the escalation die is even)

Path of the Zerae

Power Strike

You gain this maneuver at 1st level. It requires a spear.

Zerae is the bride of Hefaetrus, and her dominion is vengeance and storms. If an Amazon warrior is on a mission to right a great wrong and has proven herself worthy, the goddess will empower her with the ability to add the electrical power of the mighty hurricanes of the Southern Seas to her stabbing spear attacks.

Lightning Bolt

You gain this maneuver at 3rd level. It requires a javelin.

If an Amazon warrior has proven herself worthy, the goddess Zerae can empower her with the ability to strike down enemies by hurling javelins charged with power as if she had snatched lighting from the heavens.

Ranged attack, at-will

Special: You can target far away enemies with this attack at a -2 penalty to attack.

Charged Strike

You gain access to this maneuver at 5th level. It requires a spear.

An Amazon devoted to the path of Zerae will be able to harness the forces of vengeance and storms. During Rites of Vengeance, Zerae will confer to the Amazon attacks that unleash a wild burst of electrical energy, striking down nearby enemies. A grizzled veteran of the Time of Troubles once said: "Spear-women walking the 'Path of Zerae' are best given wide berth, for they can be as violent and indiscriminant as the storms on the Twin Seas".

Melee attack, cyclic (if you use this maneuver while the escalation die is even, it is not expended)

Attack: Strength or Dexterity + level vs. AC.

Hit: WEAPON + Strength lightning damage.

Miss: Your level in lightning damage

Effect: The attack creates one charged bolt per point of escalation die. Each bolt deals 1d4 + level lightning damage to a random nearby enemy.

Champion feat: Increase the secondary damage dice to 2d4.

Lightning Strike

You gain access to this maneuver at 8th level. It requires a spear.

Through focus and intense devotion to Zerae, an experienced warrior can harness Zerae's gift of lighting to great effect. Such a warrior is able to call upon the Goddess' might to destroy her enemies, unleashing a bolt of lighting that arcs from foe to foe.

Melee attack, cyclic (once per combat but not expended when the escalation die is even)

Attack: Strength or Dexterity + level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Strength lightning damage, and you make a secondary attack.

Miss: Your level in lightning damage

Secondary Attack: Dexterity + level vs. PD

Secondary Hit: 3d10 lightning damage, and you make another secondary attack against a target you have not attacked yet. Keep attacking as long as you hit.

Secondary Miss: half damage.

9th level maneuver: 4d10 secondary damage.

Lightning Fury

You gain this maneuver at 10th level. It requires a javelin.

Possibly the most devastating, and certainly the most spectacular, of all the techniques learned by an Amazon warrior is Lightning Fury. The High Priestess of Zerae will teach select Amazons the secret of focusing the power of the goddess, consecrating a javelin to become the ultimate weapon of vengeance. The energy contained within the javelin is so powerful that its electrical energy explodes from its stricken target, releasing bolts of lightning that strike down hapless foes nearby. Swift and powerful is the justice administered by an eminent Amazon.

Ranged attack (nearby), cyclic (once per combat but not expended when the escalation die is even)

Secondary Hit: 5d10 lightning damage, and you make another secondary attack against a target you have not attacked yet. Keep attacking as long as you hit.

Secondary Miss: Half damage

Bow and Crossbow Talents

Athulua's Guidance

Magic Arrow

You gain this maneuver at 1st level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

Far in the ancient past, Amazons found their glorious arboreal city of Tran Athulua under siege by the pirates of the Twin Seas. These cut-throats were determined to turn the Amazon Islands into their base of operations. The conflict lasted many months as the pirates laid in for a long siege. During the battle, supplies ran short, and the Amazon archers found themselves without ammunition. Realizing that their defense rested solely upon the ability of the archers to keep the corsairs at bay, the priests of the city prayed to Athulua to aid them. In answer, Athulua infused the minds of the Amazons with the power to harness their natural spiritual energies. One by one the archers melded their determination and will into shards of physical force that they then unleashed from their bows by the thousands, firmly routing the corsairs back to sea.

Multiple Shot

You gain this maneuver at 2nd level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

Legend has it that the fabled Amazon archer, Palashia, bragged in her youth that she could best the combined skills of all her greatest rivals. Taking umbrage, her rivals gathered to challenge her outrageous boast, arranging a contest to decide the question. To preserve her honor, Palashia was to strike the targets of all her rivals before they could land a single arrow. When dawn arose on the day of the contest, Palashia stood ready with her bow. At the signal, her rivals nocked their arrows and loosed a volley towards their targets. Palashia gathered her energies, and let fly with her own, single arrow. To the amazement of onlookers, her arrow split into many, cleaving the arrows of her rivals, and moving on to strike every target directly in their centers. This mysterious technique quickly became a martial secret that only the finest archers are able to master.

Ranged attack, at-will

Targets: 1d4 nearby or far away enemies

Attack: Dexterity + level vs. AC

Hit: Half of (WEAPON + Dexterity damage)

Miss: -

Champion feat: You can target 1d6 enemies.

Epic feat: You can target 2d4 enemies.

Guided Arrow

You gain this maneuver at 5th level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

Hunting and fighting during the night and in the deepest darkness is a necessary skill to any daughter of the Amazon islands. Devoted disciples of Athulua can, with great difficulty and strict discipline, train themselves to fire their arrows at targets blindly, as if the hand of Athulua herself guided the arrows. As might be imagined, this is an art that the Sisters of the Sightless Eye have long envied and yet have never replicated.

Strafe

You gain this maneuver at 6th level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

Once a warrior has attained this facility, she can fire a volley of arrows with amazing speed and precision, striking one target after another. Veteran mercenaries often tell a tale of a new recruit who was nearly struck down in battle because he was too distracted when first seeing an Amazon use this ability. Do not doubt his word, as he is probably referring to himself. Just smile and buy him another tankard of ale.

Ranged attack (nearby or far away), at-will

Special: You must use a standard and a move action to use this maneuver. Pop free from all enemies when you use this power.

Targets: A number of nearby or far away enemies equal to your Dexterity

Attack: Dexterity + level vs. AC

Hit: Half of (WEAPON + Dexterity + Wisdom damage)

Miss: Your level in damage.

Epic feat: Your first attack deals full damage.

Gift of Hefaetrus

Fire Arrow

You gain this maneuver at 1st level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

Hefaetrus is the Amazonian god of fire and rebirth who lives deep within the great volcano, Mount Arnazeus, on the island of Philios. Although primarily the patron deity of farmers, from time to time he bestows his favors upon the warriors of the Islands, so they may keep safe his congregation. Through proper prayer and the sacrifice of many fierce enemies, an especially brave Amazon can attain the power to imbue her shots with the destructive power of fire, allowing her to rake blazing missiles from her bow.

Ranged attack, at-will

Attack: Dexterity + level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Dexterity damage, plus 1d4 per level extra fire damage.

Miss: Your level in fire damage.

Exploding Arrow

You gain this maneuver at 3rd level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

Another gift of Hefaetrus, an Amazon warrior practiced in this skill can imbue the arrows that she fires with the ability to explode upon impact. The resulting detonation not only allows her to damage her intended target, but also anything caught within the explosive blast. The sight of a full battalion of Amazon archers firing a volley of such arrows is eerily beautiful. Many warriors, having witnessed good friends consumed by the flames of these arrows, vow never to fight against Amazon warriors ever again.

Ranged attack, cyclic (once per combat but not expended when the escalation die is even)

Immolation Arrow

You gain this maneuver at 6th level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

Hefaetrus will sometimes bestow this ability to his greatest champions. These fire-instilled arrows burn with such a fierce intensity that the very earth surrounding where they impact ignites into flame. Although the fires last but a few moments, some say the effect is as if the pillars of the mighty kingdom of Hefaetrus were reaching up through the ground to strike down the enemies who linger nearby.

Ranged attack, daily

Attack: Dexterity + level vs. AC.

Hit: WEAPON + Dexterity damage, plus 10 ongoing fire damage.

9th level: 25 ongoing fire damage.

Natural 16+: Deal the ongoing damage to 1d4 nearby enemies.

Miss: Your level in fire damage.

Epic feat: Deal 5 ongoing damage on a miss.

Karchaeus Watch

Cold Arrow

You gain this maneuver at 1st level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

Although winter never seems to find its way to the ever-balmy Amazon Islands, cold climates are not unheard of. The summit of Mount Karcheus on the island of Philios is covered with snow all year long. Deep within an icy cave secluded amongst its towering peaks, is the Great Hall of Mirrors where mighty Karcheus the Watcher sits upon his throne. Ever vigilant, Karcheus keeps watch over the people of the Amazons. Warriors who have trained within his temple are able to instill their shots with the power of a freezing wind.

Ranged attack, at-will

Attack: Dexterity + level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Dexterity + Constitution cold damage, and the target is slowed until the end of its next turn. If the enemy has cold resistance, it is not slowed.

Slowed: The target is dazed (-4 to attack), and enemies get a +5 bonus to disengage from it, while it takes a -5 penalty to disengage itself.

Miss: Your level in cold damage.

Ice Arrow

You gain this maneuver at 5th level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

The second of the prizes Karcheus bestows to a true warrior, this skill enables the Amazon to instill her arrows with the glacial force of a fierce blizzard. Enemies struck by this power not only feel the icy sting of the enchanted shaft, but also the force of a chilling arctic wind that, mysteriously, they alone can feel.

Ranged attack, cyclic (if you use this maneuver when the escalation die is even, it is not expended).

Attack: Dexterity + level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Dexterity + Constitution cold damage, and the target is slowed (see Cold Arrow) until the end of its next turn.

Natural 16+: The target is frozen (can't take actions) instead. Targets with cold resistance, or those of a higher level than you, are only slowed.

Miss: Your level in cold damage

Freezing Arrow

You gain this maneuver at 8th level. It requires a bow or crossbow.

The greatest of the powers attained by those dedicated to Karcheus is the skill to imbue their arrows with the freezing power of a devastating avalanche. Enemies within the impact of a freezing arrow are frozen in their tracks and feel crushing pain, as if a mass of magical ice had toppled onto them.

Natural 16+: The target is frozen (can't take actions) until the end of its next turn. If it has cold resistance or is of higher level, it is slowed instead.

Miss: Your level in cold damage

Secondary target: 1d3 enemies in the same group

Attack: Dexterity + Level vs. PD

Hit: 5 cold damage per level.

Miss: --

Passive and Magic Talents

Eye of Athena

Inner Sight

You gain this maneuver at 1st level.

The lush canopy of trees covering the Amazon homeland allows little sunlight to reach the ground. To better adapt to their environment, the Amazons have developed a technique whereby they can attune themselves to the life forces in the surrounding area and transfer these energies into a source of luminescence. This enables the Amazon and her companions to see her enemies in shadow and darkness.

Quick action, at-will

Effect: Roll a d6. Until the end of your current turn, you can choose the result if this die instead of the escalation die as a bonus to attack rolls. If you roll a 5 or 6, you expend this maneuver for this battle.

Champion feat: One nearby ally also gains the bonus.

Slow Missiles

You gain this maneuver at 3rd level.

Through strict martial discipline and focus, an Amazon warrior can attune herself to her environment and the dangers around her, allowing her to react to these hazards with superhuman agility. One aspect of this ability is her knack for avoiding missile fire. Just as the Amazon must master the bow and javelin, she must also learn to defend herself from these same weapons. When an Amazon uses this ability, incoming projectiles appear to move slower than normal, enabling her to avoid them.

Quick action, at-will

Effect: Roll a d6. Until the start of your next turn, you gain the result as a bonus to defenses against ranged attacks. If you roll a 5 or 6, you expend the maneuver for this battle.

Champion feat: One nearby ally also gains the bonus.

Decoy

You gain this maneuver at 6th level.

Amazons derive another benefit while learning to fight in the rainforests of their homeland. They learn, through misdirection and deception, to fool attacking forces into thinking there is another Amazon nearby. This subterfuge causes enemies to waste time and energy hunting down false prey while the Amazon moves in for the kill.

Quick action, at-will

Effect: You create an illusionary copy of yourself, which persists until the start of your next turn. Roll a d6 - on a 5 or 6, you expend the maneuver for this battle. When an enemy makes an attack against you, and the natural roll is odd, the attack hits the decoy instead. Enemies with true sight are immune to this effect. You can only have one decoy active at a time.

Valkyrie

You gain this ability at 8th level.

When a warrior has proven her devotion to Athulua through her brave deeds and exceptional skill in battle, the Goddess shows her favor by granting a spiritual emissary to aid the Amazon. These emissaries of Athulua are called Valkyrie, and they are the spirits of the greatest heroes from the Amazon people. The power to summon a Valkyrie is the greatest honor that an Amazon warrior can receive. It is believed this gift is a sign that your place beside the Goddess is assured when you pass from this world-perhaps even as a Valkyrie.

Standard action; Once per day

Effect:This spell summons a powerful Valkyrie to fight by your side. She is subject to the Summoning rules in 13 True Ways page 11. She has your level, hit points equal to half your total, and your defenses without item bonuses.

The Valkyrie makes melee basic attacks at your level + 10. She does not benefit from the escalation die. She deals 1d6 per level damage with a spear. The Valkyrie can use all powers from passive and magic talents (Eye of Athena, Pierce the Heart, Dance of the Ascari) that you have.

Pierce the Heart

Critical Strike

You gain this ability at 1st level.

Among the arsenal of techniques employed by the Amazon warrior is her ability to study opponents carefully and detect any weaknesses. She can then use these deficiencies in her adversary to strike at precisely those areas that will cause the greatest injuries.

Passive Effect: Increase your critical threat range by 1.

Penetrate

You gain this ability at 5th level.

The warriors of the Amazon Islands are legendary for their ability to strike their mark. Warriors with this skill are more likely to hit targets.

Passive Effect: When your natural attack roll is even, you can target PD instead of AC with an attack.

Pierce

You gain this ability at 8th level.

After long hours of training, an Amazon warrior's bow arm can develop tremendous amounts of strength. With this strength, and some additional training, the Amazon is able to maximize the power of her bow, enabling her to penetrate multiple targets with a single arrow.

Passive Effect: When you hit with a ranged attack, there is a chance that your missile will continue through its victim. If your natural roll is even, and there is an enemy behind your original target, make a second attack. The attack has the same effects on hit or miss as the original attack.

Dance of the Askari

Dodge

You gain this ability at 1st level.

To anyone familiar with their natural agility, it should came as no surprise that the training regimen of an Amazon warrior includes exercises specifically designed to avoid potentially devastating blows in combat.

Passive Effect: You gain a +1 bonus to AC and PD against melee attacks.

Avoid

You gain this ability at 3rd level.

This ability hones the natural defensive ability of an Amazon. If she stands still, she can predict incoming missile attacks and elude them before they reach her. Most Amazon people can do this if all of their thoughts to the task, but only a warrior trained in this skill can do this even whilst caught unaware.

Passive Effect: You gain a +1 bonus to AC and PD against ranged attacks.

Evade

You gain this ability at 6th level.

A warrior skilled in Dodge and Avoid may eventually learn this additional ability. Once an Amazon has sharpened her defensive concentration to this level, she will eventually be able to dodge blows and other attacks while moving. This skill can also help keep the Amazon from harm as she moves out of the way of an exploding siege engine or avoids the wrath of an enraged Sorceress!

Passive Effect: You gain a +1 bonus to AC and PD against close-quarters attacks.

Source

This class is a conversion of the Amazon class of the game Diablo II by Blizzard. Images and flavor text are taken from the Amazon entry at classic Battle.net.